Coronavirus (COVID-19): self-isolating and close contacts

If you have symptoms of or have been diagnosed with COVID-19 you must self-isolate. If you are a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, follow the guidance on self-isolation and testing below.

 https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-self-isolating-and-close-contacts

Self-isolating

You must self-isolate if:

• you have symptoms of Coronavirus (you can end isolation after a negative PCR result)
• you have tested positive for Coronavirus (10 days isolation with potential to release early from day six, as below)

If you have symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19), however mild, you should begin self-isolating and book a PCR test.

These are available for free.

• Coronavirus (COVID-19): testing

You should continue to isolate until the result of the test is available.

If the PCR result is positive, or you have taken a lateral flow test (LFT) and the result is positive, you should isolate for 10 days from the date you took the test or the date your symptoms started, whichever is sooner.

You may also have to self-isolate for 10 days if you're a close contact of someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and you are not fully vaccinated.

Ending isolation early if you tested positive

You may be able to end your self-isolation period after five full days of isolation, with release on day six, provided you have two consecutive negative lateral flow test results taken 24 hours apart, with the first of these taken no earlier than day five.

If both these test results are negative, and you do not have a high temperature, you may end your self-isolation immediately following the second negative test result on day six.

You should report your LFD test results(external link opens in a new window / tab) after taking each test.

If either your day five or six tests are positive you should test again the following day and you should only leave isolation early (that is before you have completed 10 full days) after you have had two consecutive negative LFD tests, taken at least 24 hours apart.

You should stop testing after you have had two consecutive negative test results.

If you still have a high temperature, you need to continue to self-isolate until your temperature has returned to normal for 48 hours.

If you leave self-isolation on or after day six following two negative lateral flow results, you are strongly advised to limit close contact with other people in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces and to minimise contact with anyone who is at higher risk of severe illness if infected with COVID-19.

If your lateral flow tests continue to be positive and you have completed 10 full days of isolation, you do not need to take any more LFD tests after the 10th day and you may leave isolation the following day without testing. This is because you are unlikely to be infectious after the 10th day of your isolation period.

Even if you have a positive LFD test result on the 10thday of your self-isolation period, you do not need to take any more LFD tests after this day and you do not need a follow-up PCR test.

If you are concerned, you may choose to limit close contact with other people, especially those who are at higher risk of severe illness, until 14 days after the start of the isolation period.

Separate guidance applies to health and social care.

Close contacts who are not fully vaccinated cannot end isolation early and should complete the full 10 days.